FAQs
What
do you mean by "Whole Child Education" and “Holistic”
education?
Whole
child education focuses on educating children intellectually,
emotionally, socially and physically. We believe that
a fulfilled, creative and productive life involves considerably
more than mental development or the ability to earn a
living. As important as these things are, every child
also needs the balance provided by healthy emotional,
social and physical development. Both Waldorf education
and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences approach
are used at Desert Star to understand and meet the needs
of the whole child.
Another
aspect of whole child education is the consideration of
different learning styles. Research in this area has given
educators new directions for making changes in their classrooms.
Lessons and activities blend cognitive, auditory and kinesthetic
approaches to address the students’ various dominant
learning styles. We will place a high priority on our
students "learning how to learn". Storytelling,
language arts, arithmetic, the sciences, singing, art,
music, drama and movement will be integrated to provide
the students with opportunities to receive information
through many modes of learning. The primary guiding principle
will be to engage the whole child with the subject matter
by incorporating multiple learning modalities into every
learning experience.
What
are Multiple Intelligences?
Howard
Gardner, a Harvard professor, put forth the idea that
there are many types of intelligence and our educational
system is catering to only one or two. By teaching in
a way that appeals to a variety of different learning
styles children can process information holistically and
more effectively. The types of intelligence are:
Linguistic
word
and language-based learning
Logical-Mathematical
numbers-based, logical, linear learning
Visual-Spatial
visually oriented, artistic learning
Body-Kinesthetic
physical movement and action oriented
learning
Musical
melody, pitch, and rhythm-based learning
Interpersonal Intelligence
social-emotional, group interaction and
relationship learning
Intrapersonal Intelligence
inner reflection, self awareness and
introspective learning
Naturalist Intelligence
nature-based, environmental, scientific
learning
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We
believe that every child is gifted in his or her own way.
A holistic approach to education helps to develop the
child’s unique gifts and talents while strengthening
all intelligence areas.
What
is Waldorf Education?
See
www.waldorfanswers.org/PublicWaldorf.htm
for comprehensive information
about Waldorf in public charter schools.
Waldorf
is an educational philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner,
an Austrian philosopher, educator, scientist and artist.
The first Waldorf school -- for the children of employees
at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory -- opened in
September, 1919
in Stuttgart, Germany.
Steiner
designed the school's curriculum around children's natural
course of development, incorporating their imaginations
into their lessons and encouraging artistic mastery, as
well as creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Waldorf
teaching methods emphasize a nurturing, multi-sensory,
nature-based learning environment. The stimulation of
the child’s imagination and creativity is a high
priority. Daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms help provide
consistent structure to the educational process. Multiple
learning modalities are integrated into daily lessons
to create a learning atmosphere that is supportive, challenging
and meaningful to each student. Opportunities for artistic
expression abound throughout the grades
Currently,
Waldorf is the fastest growing independent educational
movement in the private sector, with more than 800 Waldorf
schools and 120,000 students in 45 countries. Approximately
125 Waldorf schools operate in North America, and a growing
number of Waldorf-inspired public and charter schools
are beginning to sprout up across the country.
What
makes Waldorf unique from other schools?
Once
you've stepped into a Waldorf-inspired classroom,
and you have seen the children's artwork hanging
up on the walls, the beautiful and elaborate illustrations
in their main lesson books, once you've had a
chance to listen to the children stamp their feet
and clap their hands through the multiplication
tables to a hundred and beyond, once you've seen
your child run out of the classroom at the end
of the day with a big, bright smile on his face,
day after day after day, it's only really until
then that you truly realize that Waldorf is indeed
unique.
That's
because Waldorf teaches the whole child. In addition
to rigorous academics, Waldorf-inspired methods
also address a child's emotional growth, helping
her learn valuable inter-personal skills and self-disciplined
behavior.
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While
artistic expression plays a central role in each grade,
students master a variety of different disciplines, including
mathematics, natural sciences, composition, foreign languages
and handwork. Often, Waldorf is described as an education
that includes the "head, heart and hands," emphasizing
growth mentally, emotionally and physically.
Where
is the school located?
The
school has a new location for the 2007-2008 school year.
We bought property in Cornville on Recycler Rd. and are
now centrally located to many families in the Verde Valley,
including Cornville, Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome,
and Camp Verde. Due to construction this summer, families
will be able to tour the property in August. Watch for
our Open House Announcement. Get on our E-Mail
list for up-to-date school information.
What is a charter school?
In
Arizona a charter school is a public school, administered
separately from the public school district. The charter
school receives public money to run the school, and must
articulate state standards and testing like a public school.
However, the curricular emphasis and school governance
is run by the school as specified in the 'charter', which
is the school's contract with the state. In Arizona, charter
schools have more freedom to set their own goals than
in other states.
What
is the focus of your curriculum?
Our
school integrates academic, artistic, and practical work,
inspired by the innovative curriculum of Waldorf education,
a teaching method used in over 800 schools throughout
the world. Arizona educational standards for each grade
are integrated into lessons and academic excellence is
cultivated throughout the grades. Art and music are taught
at all grade levels and a nurturing environment and creative
play is important in the kindergarten. Grade students
perform plays and learn handcrafts in addition to studies
of history, science, language arts and literature, mathematics
and foreign language. Our school offers Spanish language
classes for all grades.
Is
this a religious school?
No.
The school does however have a moral or values-based aspect
in educating the 'heart' toward responsibility, respect,
and compassion.
Will
teachers follow a class through multiple grades as is
done in Waldorf schools?
The
school plans to have teachers follow students through
multiple grades, with a flexible approach to determine
what is in the best interests of the students. A student
would have one teacher for Kindergarten, another teacher
for 1st through 3rd grades after which time an evaluation
would be done to determine if the teacher would continue
with the class for 4th through 6th grade. Some teachers
are particularly suited towards teaching the younger or
older grade students and this may also be a consideration.
How
will reading be taught?
Each
child will learn to read when developmentally ready and
the school will be respectful of each child’s individual
rate of progress. Desert Star’s approach will utilize
the Waldorf model along with teaching the state standards
for reading. This will be done by offering opportunities
to read and write in the early grades while allowing each
child to progress at his or her own pace in a pressure-free
environment.
What
grades are offered? Will there be mixing ages of children
in the classroom?
The
school offers Kindergarten through 6th grade. Currently
the Kindergarten has a separate teacher and class. 1st
and 2nd grades are combined, 3rd and 4th are combined
and 5th and 6th are combined with one teacher for each
two grades. Classes are small with less than 24 students
per combined class. There are numerous opportunities for
children of different ages to interact in class and on
the playground as multi-age groupings are encouraged and
seen as beneficial, creating a supportive, family feeling
in the school community.
How
many students will there be in each class?
The
maximum number of students per class is 24 whether for
a single grade or combined grade class. The number of
students per class may also be limited by the size of
the classroom based on state regulations. For specific
class size numbers call the school.
What
will the school require for teacher qualifications?
Teachers
at the school will be required to be highly qualified
as defined by the Arizona Department of Education, which
includes a Bachelors degree and passing a State test for
competency. Teachers will be selected based on an evaluation
of how well they will be able to deliver the curriculum
using the teaching methods described in the school’s
charter.
A
Waldorf teaching certification will not be required. However,
if a teacher hired by the school does not have a background
in Waldorf teaching methods, the school will require training
in the teaching methods as part of the teacher’s
professional development.
What
is the plan for parent participation in the school?
As
a community school, the active participation of parents
both within and outside of the classroom is essential
in supporting the school’s educational program.
Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer at least
50 hours per school year. Parents’ professional,
cultural and creative knowledge, talents and abilities
help to make Desert Star a vibrant, dynamic learning environment.
In addition to the classroom assistance, the school relies
on parent volunteers to perform many non-classroom jobs
such as school maintenance and improvement, clerical duties,
fundraising and outreach.
Desert
Star Community School acknowledges that circumstances
may not allow some parents to be involved in the school
to extent that they might wish; therefore parental involvement
will not be a requirement of school enrollment.
How
can I participate in the development of the school?
The
Parent Council is responsible for assigning volunteer
activities for the school. They will match your interests
with an appropriate volunteer activity. Please call the
school office at (928) 282-0171 to find out who to call.